Disney Executive Imagineer to Deliver RoboBusiness Opening Keynote

Martin Buehler, executive R&D imagineer at Walt Disney Imagineering Research and Development, has years of experience across the robotics industry, from healthcare to delivery systems. He’ll share his insights at this September’s RoboBusiness in Santa Clara, Calif.

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — RoboBusiness is excited to announce this year’s opening keynote speaker: Dr. Martin Buehler, Executive R&D Imagineer with Walt Disney Imagineering Research & Development. Buehler leads the robotic character exploration and development initiative for Disney’s theme parks around the world. This unique role combines the artistry of animation with cutting-edge engineering and science to create lifelike characters.

Buehler’s keynote, “Elevating Business with Advanced Robotics,” will include insights from his prolific career. He will describe how businesses can benefit from thinking beyond a robot’s core function or practical application and taking a more creative approach with end users in mind. Drawing on recent examples of his team’s work at Walt Disney Imagineering, Buehler will share how it has enhanced robotic characters to create deeper and more meaningful connections with Disney theme park guests.

Disney’s Martin Buehler

After a twelve-year academic career in robotics at McGill University, Buehler and his teams have developed robotics systems in the consumer, defense, medical, logistics, and entertainment industries.

At Boston Dynamics, he served as chief engineer for BigDog, and at iRobot, he was director of research, co-leading the advanced R&D group. At Vecna, Buehler was general manager for hospital robots and led the development and deployment of autonomous logistics delivery robots.

As senior R&D manager at Medtronic, Buehler set up and directed a new medical robotics product development center in Southern Germany. These diverse experiences have given him an invaluable view into numerous cutting-edge robot developments and applications and a unique perspective of the industry.

Buehler holds several patents, has published over 100 papers, and has co-edited books on the DARPA Grand and Urban Challenges. He has also served on the editorial boards of the top three robotics journals, is an IEEE Fellow, and has received the Robotics Industry Association’s Engelberger Award for Technology. Buehler holds a Ph.D. and M.Sc. in Electrical Engineering from Yale University.

Robotics and AI developers, suppliers, and end users alike need to do more than keep up with the latest technologies. True industry leaders must be able to develop an automation strategy, develop business relationships, and transform their organizations.

“We’re looking forward to having Martin Buehler speak at this year’s conference. He will share the lessons he has learned at major companies and look to the future of robotics and business,” said Eugene Demaitre, RoboBusiness co-chair and senior editor of Robotics Business Review. “His keynote address will highlight the themes of RoboBusiness 2017 and help kick off a great show.”

RoboBusiness will host a keynote power panel immediately following Buehler’s opening address. The panel, “Mastering Robotics and AI with Power Users,“ will feature world-class executives hailing from global organizations including DHL, GE, Intel, and NASA. These speakers will share their insights and examples of how businesses can successfully develop and deploy robotics and AI.

About RoboBusiness

Produced by Robotics Business Review and Robotics Trends, RoboBusiness is the pioneering event of the global robotics industry and the most important gathering of the year for those seeking to learn more about and profit from robotics. For over 12 years, RoboBusiness has brought together thousands of executives, engineers, investors, startups, and robotics experts from around the world to learn from one another and build robotics strategies that can be immediately put to use to grow their businesses and stay ahead of the competition. RoboBusiness is supported by its parent company, Robo Business Media. Visit www.robobusiness.com.

About Robo Business Media

Robo Business Media (RBM) is the largest events and media company for robotics and unmanned systems in the world. Producing events in the United States, Europe and Asia, some of RBM’s events include RoboBusiness and TUSExpo, among others. RBM’s leading digital publications, Robotics Business Review and Robotics Trends, provide readers with news, analysis and research that spans robotics, unmanned systems, and artificial intelligence. Visit www.robobusinessmedia.com.